While the Alberta Progressive Conservative caucus chose Deputy Premier Dave Hancock to be their interim leader, the names of those who would be vying to succeed Alison Redford permanently are starting to be bruited about.

The potential contenders could be divided in three categories.

Canadian Press

The caucus heavyweights

A number of provincial cabinet ministers are likely
candidates.

Finance Minister Doug Horner would be a front-runner on
most lists. He just delivered Alberta’s first balanced budget in seven years
and is a past leadership candidate, coming third in the 2011 race that crowned
Ms. Redford.

While Mr. Horner is a four-term veteran MLA, another
high-profile cabinet member, Municipal Affairs Minister Ken Hughes, is a
newcomer to the legislature. Mr. Hughes, like others in caucus, might be
handicapped because of his close ties to the departing premier however.

The outside help

Former federal Conservative minister Jim Prentice is a
respected figure, once one of the most capable members of Prime Minister Stephen
Harper's cabinet. Now a senior executive at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce,
Mr. Prentice was long thought to be a potential successor to Mr. Harper.

Brian Jean, the former Conservative MP for Fort McMurray,
recently resigned his seat but said at the time he wasn't ruling out a return
to politics.

The names of two former provincial ministers are also
often mentioned: Jim Dinning, who was provincial treasurer in the 1990s, and
Gary Mar, who lost to Ms. Redford in the 2011 leadership race.

Mr. Mar, who is now the province's trade representative in
Hong Kong, was in the news recently when it was revealed that he earned well
over $300,000, making him Alberta's highest-paid diplomat.

The Globe and Mail

From the municipal world

Another name being bandied about is Stephen Mandel, the
former Edmonton mayor who stepped down last year after three terms. As for
Alberta's most famous civic politician, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi met
reporters after Ms. Redford's resignation to laud her as a good person who was
undercut by backroom politics.

Asked if he would run, Mr. Nenshi said “Seriously?"
then chuckled.

However, he wouldn't close the door and in his remarks
alluded not just to his obligations toward Calgarians but all Albertans.

"I can tell you regardless of whatever role I’m in
personally, I will take a very serious part in this next election," he
said, "always fighting for the interests of Calgarians and Albertans.”